Latina Mother-Daughter Communication About Education: Cultivating a Mujer Preparada via Consejos

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Latinx Health and Families

Abstract

The present study examines how Latina mothers communicate to their adolescent daughters messages in the form of consejos [advice] and provide reasons as to why their daughters should prioritize pursuing a higher education. The present study analyzes conversational data collected from 54 Latina mother-daughter dyads who were videotaped having a 7 minute conversation about “where they see their daughters in 5 years”. The analysis revealed that mothers encourage daughters to delay romantic relationships and childbearing in order to pursue education, continue to persevere, gain independence through educational preparation, and attain more opportunities via hard work hard and educational attainment. Findings underscore the significance of maternal messages in promoting daughters to become self-reliant and independent through educational preparation.

Authors

• Gabriela Gutierrez-Serrano, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Diana Chagolla, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Laura F. Romo, University of California - Santa Barbara